Witnesses to History

As Barack Obama became President of the United States, many people wanted to make the journey to Washington DC to join hundreds of thousands of Americans to witness the Inauguration first-hand.

Witnesses to History is the story of the historical significance of the election and inauguration of Barack Obama. WTIU cameras accompany a Monroe County group to Washington DC to be among the millions witnessing the swearing-in of the nation's first African-American President. Obama's victory—improbably—may have been sealed in the Republican stronghold of Indiana when he became the first Democrat since 1964 to carry the state.

The historical impact of the election of the country's 44th President is chronicled in this 30-minute special. Starting with a more than two-century fight for equal opportunities and culminating in a day many—including a Monroe County veteran of three wars—thought they'd never see. Political experts and well-known leaders including Dr. Cornel West and former Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy reflect on the significance and the importance of the 2008 election.